Winston must sit out first 3 games
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open the season without quarterback Jameis Winston, who has been suspended three games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Winston wrote on Facebook that the NFL informed him of its decision Thursday. The discipline stems from the league’s investigation of an accusation the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner groped a female Uber driver during a ride he took in Arizona, where the 24-year-old quarterback was attending a charity event in March 2016.
The driver reported the incident to Uber but did not file a criminal or civil complaint. The NFL learned of the allegation last November, when it was reported publicly.
“The league promptly initiated a comprehensive investigation that included interviews with several persons, including the driver, Winston and others with relevant information,” the NFL said in an announcement of the suspension. “The league also examined an extensive amount of other evidence, including telephone records,
business records, data from electronic devices and other communications.”
The Bucs drafted Winston No. 1 overall in 2015 despite questions about his behavior during his college career at Florida State. Winston was accused of raping a fellow student but was never charged. The university settled a Title IX lawsuit regarding its handling of the allegations with Winston’s accuser, Erica Kinsman, in January 2016 for $1.7 million.
In his Facebook post, Winston wrote in part: “First and foremost, I would like to say I’m sorry to the Uber driver for the position I put you in. It is uncharacteristic of me and I genuinely apologize. In the past 2 1/2 years my life has been filled with experiences, opportunities and events that have helped me grow, mature and learn, including the fact that I have eliminated alcohol from my life.”
He went on to apologize to his teammates and the Buccaneers organization and said, “Although I am disappointed in the NFL’s decision, I understand the NFL’s process, and I embrace this as an opportunity to take advantage of the resources available to help me achieve the goals that I have for myself.”
Winston, who has thrown for 11,636 yards and 69 touchdowns in three NFL seasons, has started 45 of the Bucs’ past 48 games. Due to a shoulder injury, he missed three games last season, when the Bucs went 5-11 and missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year.
Now he will miss the Bucs’ season opener at New Orleans on Sept. 9 and homes games against the Philadelphia Eagles — last season’s Super Bowl champions — and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The league said Winston is required to have a clinical evaluation and cooperate in any recommended program of therapeutic intervention.
“All members of our organization are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the personal conduct policy of the NFL,” the Bucs said in a statement. “We are disappointed that Jameis put himself in a position that has been found to violate the policy and accept today’s decision by the commissioner.”
The suspension will cost Winston $124,411 of his base salary of $705,000 for the upcoming season. He is set to earn $20.9 million in 2019.
Richardson fined
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NFL fined former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson $2.75 million after its investigation into sexual and racial misconduct in the workplace.
The league said the investigation conducted by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White substantiated the allegations against Richardson, that the improper conduct was limited to him and that the team and its ownership failed to report the allegations or any resolution agreements to the league. The league also said most of the money will go toward organizations that address racial- and genderbased issues.
Richardson put the team up for sale after Sports Illustrated published a report in December that he made sexually suggestive comments to women and on at least one occasion directed a racial slur at a Panthers scout who is black. According to the report, the settlements came with nondisclosure requirements forbidding the parties from discussing the details.
Richardson has an agreement to sell the Panthers for a league-record $2.2 billion to hedge fund president and owner David Tepper. The league owners unanimously approved the sale last month, and NFL officials said the deal is expected to close in the next two weeks.